Cambridge

Cambridge's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 120,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Cambridge increased by 14%, from just under 109,000 to 124,000.

The addition of just over 15,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cambridge was home to, on average, 22 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Cambridge

Latest census data also show that the median age of Cambridge remained 31 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had the lowest average age in Eastof England and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 3,700 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by about 300.

About 25% of people in Cambridge are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Cambridge by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

Cambridge saw Eastof England's second-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households in Cambridge had only one person, compared with 36% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.9% to 11%.

Across the region, only Southend-on-Sea saw a greater fall in the proportion of one-person households (from 35% to 33%).

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Cambridge

The proportion of married people fell in Cambridge, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Eastof England, except Welwyn Hatfield.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 54% to 50%.

During this period, Cambridge fell below Norwich to become the Eastof England local authority area with the second-lowest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Cambridge residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across Eastof England, while the percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care fell faster than anywhere else in the region

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Cambridge remained close to 0.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Cambridge by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Cambridge

Cambridge saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 17 (5.8%) in Cambridge reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.3% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 1.9% to 2.1%.

Across the region, only Welwyn Hatfield (from 7.3% to 6.4%) and Thurrock (from 6.2% to 5.5%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Cambridge

In 2011, 11% of the local population said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups. An increase from 5.9% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Cambridge.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.8% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 83% of people in Cambridge said they were from the White ethnic groups, down from 89% in 2001. About 3.2% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 2.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups rose from 1.3% to 1.7% between the last two censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Cambridge increased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Cambridge by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Cambridge that rented privately increased from 20% to 26% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households lived in social housing, compared with 23% in 2001. While the percentage of Cambridge households that owned their home decreased from 53% to 47%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Cambridge increased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cambridge, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Cambridge residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.4% to 3.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Cambridge residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 9.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Cambridge decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Cambridge, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

The percentage of Cambridge residents that were studying increased from 4.2% to 5.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 48%, while the percentage of Cambridge residents that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 2.7%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Cambridge increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Cambridge, Eastof England and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Cambridge working less than 16 hours increased from 2.8% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (10.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Cambridge increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Cambridge, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Cambridge with children increased from 23% to 24% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (69%) households had no children, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of households in Cambridge with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 6.6%.

The proportion of households with children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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